Vinay Kumar begins mission to restore Karnataka’s golden era

R. Vinay Kumar’s maiden stint as Karnataka coach, which begins this Sunday with the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy opener against Andhra in Mulapadu near Vijayawada, is both an opportunity and a challenge.

Karnataka hasn’t won India’s premier red-ball tournament since the back-to-back triumphs in 2013-14 and 2014-15, and ending the drought will represent a full-circle moment for Vinay, for he was the skipper during those victories.

But the eight-time champion will not be at full strength. If injuries have robbed Karnataka of frontline pacers Prasidh Krishna, V. Vyshak and Vidwath Kaverappa versus Andhra, India and India-A call-ups for K.L. Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal and R. Smaran will keep the trio away for lengthy periods.

Regular captain Padikkal, who is currently playing against Australia-A, is not available for the weekend’s match, and is expected to miss the next three games too owing to the tour of New Zealand.

Rahul and stand-in leader Smaran are likely to depart after the Andhra fixture, in time for the New Zealand-A series beginning on October 24.

“I am the happiest when players from Karnataka play for India and nothing makes us more proud,” Vinay told The Hindu. “At the same time, there will be a gap in experience.

“In that situation, it is my responsibility to make sure that the player [who comes in] gets used to the pressures of First Class cricket. The game remains the same but it is all about decision-making in the middle.

“We have to keep the atmosphere relaxed and make them enjoy the process. Overall, it is a great opportunity for others to grow as cricketers.”

Vinay’s pedigree should help. He is not just a Ranji-winning captain, but also the all-time leader for wickets among speedsters in the competition (442 scalps). He has had coaching stints in UAE’s ILT20, working alongside players such as Kieron Pollard, and has been a talent scout at Mumbai Indians.

Wise counsel can also be sought from the likes of Karun Nair, Mayank Agarwal and Shreyas Gopal, who won the Ranji under Vinay.

“It’s great to have them. They were part of Karnataka’s glory days, and they know how to win. They will also have a role in taking care of the up-and-coming cricketers, making them understand what it takes to win trophies for Karnataka. Sometimes there is a big difference between a message going from a coach and from a colleague.”

If the team imbibes the right lessons, success will not be far.